Sarnia pilot recycling program called “a success”

A two-stage pilot public spaces program that took place in Sarnia, Ont. during 2009 has been labeled a success, with 75 per cent of beverage containers – plastic containers among them – diverted during phase one and up to 84 per cent diverted during phase two.

Intended to reclaim plastic, glass and aluminum Blue Box-style items that were abandoned by consumers in park spaces and recreational facilities, the first phase of the Sarnia program took place in three parks and resulted in an average diversion rate of 75 per cent for beverage containers – a 73.5 per cent increase over a previous project.

The second phase of the program took place in three Sarnia arenas and eight convenience stores/gas bars. The arenas experienced an average diversion rate of 73 per cent for beverage containers. There was no recycling program in place prior to the implementation of this pilot project. The convenience stores/gas bars experienced an 84 per cent diversion rate for beverage containers. Again, there was no recycling program in place prior to the establishment of the pilot.

The City of Sarnia, Refreshments Canada, the Canadian Bottled Water Association (CBWA), Nestlé Waters Canada and Waste Diversion Ontario’s Continuous Improvement Fund (CIF) sponsored the project.

“Sarnia is now the home of Ontario’s first and most effective public spaces recycling program,” said Mike Bradley, Mayor, City of Sarnia. “The pilot public spaces recycling program helped our community to kick-start the greening of Sarnia parks and arenas in a significant fashion. We are implementing what we learned during the pilot in other parks and public spaces throughout the city and encourage the Government of Ontario to work with the Canadian beverage industry to include public spaces recycling as a permanent complement to the Blue Box program in this province.”

The pilot results, prepared by program consultant StewardEdge, are being forwarded to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment for consideration of this type of public spaces recycling as a future complement to the Province’s current Blue Box program.